A
          / \      _             Play Now                         Nemesis on 
          | |     | |  _______   _        _   _______    _______   _    _______
          | |\    | | |   ____| |  \    /  | |   ____|  /   ____| | |  /   ____|
 /-------/-------------------------------------------------------------------,
O= Home <=XX|  About  News  Pics  Adventurers  Wizards  Download  Connect     >
 \-------\-------------------------------------------------------------------'
          | |   \   | |  |____  | |      | | |  |____   ___ \  \  | |  ___ \  \
          | |     \_| |_______| |_|      |_| |_______| |_______/  |_| |_______/
          \ /
           V  

Documentation Area

Document Path: /doc/monsters/cyclops

Name:
	Cyclops  (Humanoid)

Stats:
	No. Appearing  : 1-4
	Climate/Terrain: Temperate/Hills and mountains, subtropical islands
	Frequency      : Very rare
	Organization   : Clan
	Activity Cycle : Day
	Diet           : Omnivore

Description:
	A diminuitive relative of true giants, cyclopes are single-eyed giants
	that live alone or in small bands. The typical cyclops weighs around
	700 pounds, and stands 15 feet tall. A single large, red eye dominates
	the center of its forehead. Shaggy black or dull, deep blue hair falls
	in a tangled mass about its head and shoulders, its skin tone varies
	from ruddy brown to muddy yellow, and its voice is rough and sharp.
	Cyclopes commonly dress in ragged animal hides and sandals. They smell
	of equal parts dirt and dung.

Combat:
	Cyclopes are armed with either a club or a bardiche. Each will also
	carry a heavy hurling spear and a sling of great size. They never wear
	armour or use shields, for their tough hide gives them ample protection
	from most attacks.

	Cyclopes do not bother with strategies of tactics in combat. If their
	opponents are out of reach, the use slings, hurl heavy spears, or hurl
	builders up to 150 yards away. Since the single eye of the cyclopes
	gives them poor depth perception, they suffer penalties to all missile
	attack rolls, but not to damage. If the opponents are close, the cy-
	clopes rush in to fight with their clubs or bardiches.

Habitat/Society:
	The single-eyed humanoids shy away from organized settlements. If left
	alone, they tend to leave armed groups alone, though they are not above
	attacking a much weaker force if they stumble across one. Cyclopes have
	no regard for any form of life other than themselves. Captives are ei-
	ther enslaved or eaten. This doesn't happen very often, since the cy-
	clopes tend to live in remote rocky places in the extreme wilds or on
	isolated island, where they scratch out a meager existence by sheper-
	ding their flocks of giant sheep. They rarely wander more than 10 miles
	from their caves.

	A cyclops cave is sealed with boulders and there is but one entrance.
	Inside, if size permits, there will be wooden pens to house both ani-
	mals and slaves. The pens always have roofs of either wooden bars or
	the natural cave ceiling.

	At night, a large boulder or stout wooden gate is placed at the en-
	trance of the cave to protect the cyclops from predators. There are no
	interior fire pits, since cyclopes use fire inrequently, and then only
	outside their lairs. Any cyclops treasure will be kept in a sack in the
	cave.

Ecology:
	Cyclopes can surive on almost any animal plant diet. They enjoy meat of
	all sorts and prize it above vegetable foods. While they live off the
	land, they do not live with it. They have absolutely no sanitary prac-
	tices, and rarely even cook their meals. They take no care to preserve
	their environment while hunting, and are considered to be one of the
	easiest creatures of their size to track.

	The life of a cyclops is hazardous, and hence they have a short life
	expectancy. Besides human adventurers, there are many predators, such
	as tigers, giants, wyverns, and trolls, that are not above attacking a
	small group of these giants. However, mountain dwarves actually go out
	of their way to hunt cyclo- pes, receiving the dwarven bonus against
	giants.